Articles from the April 22, 2015 edition


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  • Finance director resigns

    David Martin, Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    After nearly 14 years with the City of Green River, Finance Director Jeff Nieters is saying goodbye. His last day will be June 2. Nieters said he plans to move to Cheyenne to join his wife, who was recently hired as a nurse at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. He said he aims to find a job in the nonprofit sector as well. "I really like Green River, but my job here is done and it's time to move on," Nieters said. He said one of the best aspects about his tenure working as the finance director...

  • Resident wants street paved

    David Martin, Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    The dust and the mud have gotten to be too much for residents along one Green River street and they’re asking the city to pave it. During the public comment portion of last night’s Green River City Council meeting, Jim Rockhold approached the governing body with a written request to pave East Third North Street. The street is more narrow than other streets in the city, often resembling an alley way than an actual street. Rockhold said he first approached the city in 2011, when he was told the city didn’t have money for a paving project. He co...

  • County rejects hospital bonds

    David Martin, Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County won’t be building their proposed ambulatory surgery center in the near future. The Sweetwater County Commissioners voted unanimously against allowing the hospital to apply for revenue bonds it sought to pay for the center, which is estimated to cost approximately $50 million to build. The commissioners heard a presentation from hospital representatives two weeks ago regarding details about the bonds, but declined to act afterward in an attempt to give residents a chance to comment on the proposal. Yesterda...

  • GR businessman accused of theft, fraud

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    A Green River businessman accused of theft and trying to obtain property by false pretenses pleaded not guilty to the two felony charges. On Monday Jeffrey T. Wharton appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James at an arraignment to felony charges of theft and obtaining property by false pretenses. If found guilty of both charges, Wharton could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000. A jury trial has been scheduled to take place in August. According to court documents, on June 27, 2014, a Green R...

  • Virginia Grace Skorcz

    Apr 22, 2015

    Virginia Grace Skorcz, 67, of Farson passed away April 19, 2015 at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City. A longtime resident of Farson, Skorcz died following a lengthy illness. She was born on Feb. 1, 1948 in Rock Springs, the daughter of the late Woodrowe Taylor Pennock and Marjorie Fiscus Pennock. Skorcz went to the Rock Springs High School and graduated with the class of 1966. She also attended and graduated from Western Wyoming Community College with an associate of arts d...

  • Douglas Paul Osborne

    Apr 22, 2015

    Douglas Paul Osborne, 48, of Rock Springs passed away April 10, 2015 at Intermountain Health Care Center in Murray, Utah, where he had been a patient for one week. A long time resident of Rock Springs and former resident of Salt Lake City, Osborne had been in ill health for the past six months. He was born on Sept. 15, 1966 in Chico, Calif., the son of Charles Leonard Osborne and Margaret Farnworth Osborne. Osborne attended schools in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He was employed as an auto mechanic...

  • Michael Wayne Hunt Sr.

    Apr 22, 2015

    Michael Wayne Hunt Sr. 67, of Park City, Mont. and former 35-year resident of Opal passed away April 16, 2015. He was born July 30, 1947 to Louis and Betty Hunt in Essex, Mo. Upon graduating from Boron High School in California, Hunt was drafted into the army and served in Vietnam. While stationed in Kansas, he met Greta Rose. Four months and 10 days later, on Nov. 1, 1969, he married Rose. She preceded him in death by four months and 10 days. Hunt started in mining 43 years ago and later became a safety man. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, grilli...

  • Mariam Louise Banks

    Apr 22, 2015

    Mariam Louise Banks, 94, passed away April 15, 2015 in Ogden, Utah. She was born on Feb. 19, 1921 in Lyman to Walter Smith and Emily Louise (Bluemel) Tanner. She married Walter H. Banks on April 5, 1942. He preceded her in death on June 21, 1974. Their marriage was solemnized in the Ogden Temple on Sept. 12, 1992. She managed the souvenir shop at Little America for several years and retired from Little America April 4, 2000 at age 79. Mariam loved flower gardening, reading, collecting dolls and...

  • Mary Jane Morrison

    Apr 22, 2015

    Mary Jane Morrison, 62, of Green River passed away April 10, 2015 at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. A long time resident of Green River, Morrison died following a lengthy illness. She was born on April 30, 1952 in Carlsbad, N.M., the daughter of the late Aaron Roberson and Stella Poulson Roberson. Morrison attended schools in Carlsbad, N.M. She married Ricky Francis Morrison on April 6, 1979 in Green River and he preceded her in death on May 28, 2006. Her interests included spending tim...

  • Our View: It's not all doom and gloom

    Apr 22, 2015

    Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of the world. Wars, disease, famine and corruption run rampant across the globe and while we here in Green River are spared from those social ills, it isn’t hard to open up a web browser or turn on the T.V. and witness them. However, amongst the sad and tragic events occurring seemingly everywhere, there are pieces of news showing us that everything isn’t doom and gloom. Even in the relatively unmoderated cesspool that is the internet, the occasional speck of light shines. For exampl...

  • Notes from Town Square: Is the city going green?

    Linda Roosa, Solid Waste Supervisor|Apr 22, 2015

    Officially Earth Day is April 22, and 2015 marks the 45th anniversary of the very first Earth Day festival. Earth Day Network’s year-round mission is to broaden, diversify and activate the environmental movement worldwide, through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns. Recently, Green River celebrated its third annual Earth Day Fair at the Pavilion and 43 volunteers took time out to help make it a big success. The weather was beautiful Saturday and almost 200 people came down to Expedition Island and joined us for a...

  • Letter: Resource available for the bullied

    Apr 22, 2015

    Dear Editor, This letter is for Michelle Nelson who wrote the sad letter entitled, ‘Why is my child not safe at school?’. It was on Page 8 in the Thursday, April 2, 2015 edition of the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner. I also write this letter to all children and all parents of bullied children, whether they have special needs or not. An observant parent or sibling can usually tell if a child is experiencing fear or all of a sudden is acting up or refusing to go to school. They feel powerless and helpless and sometimes they won’t tell anyon...

  • Letter: Gerrymandering blamed for GOP successes

    Apr 22, 2015

    Dear Editor, Why all of a sudden do Republicans have a large majority in the House of Representatives. It certainly can’t be because American voters loved the last six years of “do-nothing” Republican obstruction and extremism. Republicans have discovered the magic bullet for corrupting the election system - Republicans discovered another flaw in America’s antiquated electoral process. The party that controls state legislatures has the task of redrawing (gerrymandering) the boundaries of congressional district maps every 10 years followi...

  • Locking myself out, again...

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    As soon as I heard my car beep to notify me that it was locking I knew I was in trouble. With my work camera in hand I quickly tried all of the doors. No luck. I tried the tailgate. No luck. This just confirmed what I already knew, but was fighting hard to believe. Yep. Once again, I had locked myself out of the car. As I glanced at my purple purse to sitting on the driver’s side seat, I couldn’t help but feel like a real dummy. Of course, I blamed it on the weather. If it had not have been sno...

  • Snowy weather and the idiots it brings

    Jack H. Smith, Staff Writer|Apr 22, 2015

    I’m currently looking out the window to an intense, yet beautiful spring snow storm. Even living in Wyoming, it amazes me when the spring or early fall snow comes and people suddenly act like Green River is Jamaica and this should never be happening this time of the year. It seems the whole area goes into a panic and nobody is quite sure what to do. It’s Wyoming. It snows pretty much all year long. After a pretty descent winter, everyone had to know this was going to be coming. For all we know after a tame winter, it will probably snow dur...

  • Children's literature can be transforming

    Lindsey Travis, Sweetwater County Library System|Apr 22, 2015

    There’s a magic in children’s literature that can be transforming. It can help children see other worlds, other perspectives. It can help them travel -- in their imaginations, at least -- to places that they may never be able to actually visit. My favorite children’s book fits this description. I remember reading Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden” when I was about nine or 10 years old. It was (and still is!) an amazing book. Mary Lennox arrives at Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle after she was orphaned. The estate was...

  • Patients now grade their local hospitals

    Trudy Lieberman, Rural Health News Service|Apr 22, 2015

    The government has just announced its first-ever star ratings of the country’s hospitals based on patients’ assessments of the care they received. Other organizations have dabbled in this ratings business, many of them to make a buck by selling their rankings. And it’s not uncommon for some of these outfits to get licensing fees from hospitals that get glowing report cards they can then use to market themselves. I’ve tended to view those ratings schemes with skepticism. The government’s ratings, however, don’t come with any of that baggage and...

  • Tea and treats for a worthy cause

    David Martin, Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    It was a scene reminiscent of a victorian novel. Ornate teacups and saucers arranged on tables in intricate settings, many of which were filled with colorful and hot liquids. Large trays and platters featuring a variety of sweets, treats and finger sandwiches were lined up, ready to be served to hungry guests. However, the scene wasn’t taken from an episode of “Downton Abbey,” it was the setting of the annual Spring Fling Tea fundraiser for the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Auxiliary. A...

  • Narcotics Arrest Group nabs two wanted on drug charges

    Staff Report|Apr 22, 2015

    County deputies and detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Narcotics Arrest Group unit arrested two people wanted on various charges on April 17. Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell said Deputy Sheriffs Amanda Buller and Mike Merkley followed up leads Friday evening on the whereabouts of 19-year-old Morgan Bauer, wanted for alleged possession of methamphetamine, that took them to an address at 45 Purple Sage Road, located west of Rock Springs. While arresting Bauer, another wanted person, 29-year-old Joshua Hunter of Rock Springs, was l...

  • GR cops take on seniors at Wii Bowling

    David Martin, Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    Often, when someone is dealing with the Green River Police Department, it's usually in regards to a crime, civil problem or a traffic stop. However, Thursday morning, members of the Golden Hour Senior Center Wii Bowling league had a chance to bowl with a few of Green River's finest. Golden Hour Senior Center Activities Director Megan Brown said she initially got the idea when she watched seniors in Salt Lake City take on the the city's fire department in a bowling tournament. She decided to...

  • Kids enjoy spring weekend events

    David Martin, Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    Children throughout Sweetwater County had a chance to learn, volunteer and have fun last weekend. The city hosted its annual Earth Day Fair Saturday morning on Expedition Island and in the Pavilion. Aside from a variety of booths covering topics related to recycling and environmentally friendly activities, children also had a chance to make seed packets from newsprint and seed or play a ring toss game utilizing recycled bottles. Outside, children also got the chance to draw on the pavement using...

  • School, scouting service recognized

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    Well-known educator and Scoutmaster Dennis Freeman was humbled when his name was called as one of recipients of the 2015 Green River Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. This year, two of these awards were given out, and both recipients were humbled to be in company with each other for this prestigious award. Freeman said he knew he was nominated for the award, but had no idea he was going to receive it. “Because I am out in the community a lot, I see those other people out there,” Freeman said. “I know many of the people who have recei...

  • Honored for decades of service given

    Stephanie Thompson, People Editor|Apr 22, 2015

    He has coached swimming for more than 30 years in Green River; and this is just one of the things Randy Walker is known for. Last Wednesday, Walker was one of two who received the 2015 Green River Distinguished Citizen Award at a Green River Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Walker said he knew was receiving an award, but didn’t know what for. “I am glad to find out it wasn’t an extinguished citizen’s award,” Walker said. “I was pleasantly surprised. It’s really quite an honor to be recognized for the things I’ve tried to do over the years.” Wal...

  • Boys beat undefeated Jackson

    Jack H. Smith, Staff Writer|Apr 22, 2015

    The Green River High School boy’s soccer made a strong statement last week with a first-place finish at the Pinnacle Soccer Cup. The Wolves won four consecutive games over the two-day tournament and defeated Jackson 2-1 in a thrilling championship game. “I am very proud after this weekend and winning all four games,” head coach Chris Bieber said. “ After picking up 3-1 victories over both Douglas and Star Valley Friday, Green River came out focused and crushed Worland 7-0 in the Gold Bracket semifinals. That set the stage for the finale...

  • Green River hosts Natrona, Kelly Walsh

    Jack H. Smith, Staff Writer|Apr 22, 2015

    While first place in the 4A West standings will be on the line Friday afternoon when the Green River girl’s soccer team hosts Natrona, Green River head coach Tracy Wyant is more concerned about her team playing quality soccer. “We try not to a lot of value into the standings. It doesn’t matter the team we are playing, we’re looking for quality soccer,” Wyant said. Both teams will enter the 3 p.m. contest with unblemished 3-0 marks in conference play, but it won’t be their first matchup of the season. Wyant said the two teams met in a jamboree g...

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